El Niño event, which started in June 2009, continues to have widespread impacts. Effects have been seen in basin-wide Pacific Ocean conditions as well as climate patterns around world. Most likely outcome by mid-year 2010 is for El Niño to have decayed and near-neutral conditions to be re-established across tropical Pacific. Even during its decay over next few months, conditions associated with El Niño will continue to influence climate patterns at least through second quarter of year.
Read More

ICAC has released guidance on selecting and evaluating bids for activated carbon injection systems for coal fired power plants. Developed by ICAC's Mercury Control Technology Division, Bid Specification and Information Requirements and Bid Evaluation Form document will help purchasers compile information necessary to procure meaningful bids from suppliers of activated carbon injection systems.
Read More

Columbia University and Global Research Technologies (GRT) have entered collaboration and licensing agreement for technology that extracts CO2 from atmosphere. Expectations are that, within 2 years, units would capture up to 1 ton of CO2 per day. Deemed synthetic trees, technology uses proprietary resins and processes to absorb CO2 from air at rates exceeding that of natural trees. With predicted lifespan of 15 years, products will consume minimal energy during carbon capture process.
Read More

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory has found evidence of hydrothermal vents on seafloor near Antarctica. By analyzing thousands of oceanographic measurements, geochemist Gisela Winckler and her Lamont colleagues pinpointed 6 spots on remote Pacific Antarctic Ridge - approximately 2,000 miles from New Zealand and 1,000 miles from west coast of Antarctica - where vents are likely to be found. Those sites are described in published paper in Geophysical Research Letters journal.
Read More

Intense 2-week meeting of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora closed without agreeing on new trade measures to protect marine species. However, over 150 governments adopted decisions to strengthen wildlife management for several reptiles, combat illegal trafficking in tigers and rhinos, and update trade rules for wide range of plant and animal species. During meeting, 24 proposals were accepted, 10 were rejected, and 7 were withdrawn.
Read More

Ministers and representatives of 10 African countries that share Western Indian Ocean signed agreement to protect their marine environment. Cooperatively devised, this 25-year program of action aims to ensure efficient management of marine and coastal environment in larger Eastern and Southern African regions. Specific issues addressed include increasing pollution of coastal waters, destruction/degradation of critical habitats, and challenges resulting from global climate change.
Read More

UN Climate Change Secretariat published results of last year's UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Report details outcomes of UNFCCC Conference of Parties at its 15th session and Conference of Parties serving as meeting of Parties to Kyoto Protocol on its 5th session. Since closing of conference, UNFCCC has received submissions of national pledges to cut or limit emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 from 75 parties, which together account for more than 80% of global emissions from energy use.
Read More

Following conference in Copenhagen, next round of formal UN climate change negotiations under UNFCCC is scheduled to take place April 9-11 in Bonn, Germany. According to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer, decision to intensify negotiating schedule underlines commitment by governments to move negotiations forward towards success in Cancun. This is further strengthened by number of countries that have written to the secretariat with their country communications since Copenhagen.
Read More

CCX® integrated internationally recognized best practices into offset project protocols. Specifically, ISO 14064-2:2006 and ISO 14064-3:2006 are integrated into project protocols, program guidance documentation, and processes. Further integration of best practice greenhouse gas accounting methods is also specified, as are enhancements to program forms and documentation. Various project management protocols have also been included.
Read More

According to T and E, some of Europe's biggest-selling vans are already close to meeting proposed EU CO2 targets for 2016 after making improvements in fuel efficiency this year. European Commission's proposal for binding CO2 targets for vans states that manufacturers should cut van emissions to 175 g of carbon dioxide per km by 2016. Meanwhile, car industry lobby continues to claim that EU proposals for binding reduction targets are unrealistic. That claim is not credible, says T and E.
Read More

Independent report, commissioned jointly by Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, and Transport and Environment, warned that putting more electric cars on the road could increase carbon emissions unless they run on green energy. The study warns that existing EU legislation on car emissions is flawed because it allows manufacturers to use sales of electric vehicles to offset continued production of gas-guzzling cars.
Read More

California Public Utilities Commission has tapped experts at NREL to help stimulate solar energy research and build sustainable solar industry. Commission awarded NREL $2,785,000 in California Solar Initiative Research, Development, Deployment, and Demonstration program grants. Laboratory will direct development of software that will optimize energy investments in residential retrofit market and lead project to analyze penetration levels of photovoltaics into state's electricity distribution grid.
Read More

Minority business advocacy group named US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as its corporation of the year, citing contracts with and outreach towards minority-owned businesses. Award was determined by heads of minority-owned businesses who are members of Rocky Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council (RMMSDC), which said NREL has provided needed opportunities to its members. "NREL has been a strong supporter," said RMMSDC President/CEO Stan Sena.
Read More

U.S. Department of Energy's NREL announced series of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements with 3M that establish joint investigations in 3 key areas of innovation. Areas include moisture barrier films and flexible packaging for CIGS thin film solar cells; reflective coatings to protection and enhance performance of mirrors used in concentrating solar power; and alternatives to ethanol biofuel distillation that will increase throughput in production plants.
Read More

Emerging Technologies Night - held by New England Chapter of Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) on April 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm in Waltham, MA - will feature 9 industry professionals presenting emerging technologies that will also be on display. All presented technologies are all well beyond prototype stage, are commercially available, and have proven field use. Some technologies being presented include advances in features, cost, or services.
Read More

IPC has revised IPC J-STD-609, Marking and Labeling of Components, PCBs, and PCBAs to Identify Lead, Lead-Free, and Other Attributes. Presenting marking and labeling system that aids in electronics assembly, rework, repair, and recycling, standard provides additional codes for precise specification of certain lead-free solders. It offers guidance on using range of solder alloys now available. Maximum component temperature for assembly or rework processes is also defined.
Read More

Energy Policies of IEA Countries - Italy 2009 Review acknowledges that Italy has succeeded in diversifying gas supply routes, added electricity generating capacity, and is in the process of further diversifying fuels for electricity generation. However, Review points out that country's energy sector needs integrated long-term vision and that it remains vulnerable in several respects, such as high dependency on electricity imports and long delays in infrastructure development.
Read More

Taking place from June 26-30, 2010 ASHRAE Annual Conference will focus on its theme of Raising Efficiency to New Levels. Technical program, concentrating on energy efficient system design for high elevations and dry climates, features market-based papers and programs as well as traditional full-length Technical Papers and Conference Paper format. Technical program tracks include Energy Facts vs. Simulation; Refrigeration for Future; and Energy Conservation vs. New Generation.
Read More